PITTSBURGH, Pa. - The Robert Morris University men's hockey team completed a road sweep of Air Force Saturday night in Colorado Springs on the back of a first-period natural hat trick from Jordan Timmons.
RMU improves to 5-2 on the season, including 3-1 in Atlantic Hockey play.
Less than 24 hours removed from registering his first career NCAA point with an assist Friday night, Brian Kramer picked up another on his first shift Saturday, wiring one from the point that Timmons got a piece of on its way to the net for the junior's fourth of the year.
The opening salvo touched off an offensive barrage for Robert Morris and Timmons in particular, who scored twice more in the span of five minutes to give the Colonials a three-goal cushion before the halfway mark of the first period.
The Bridgeville, Pa. native got on the board again after finding a loose puck in a goalmouth scramble with several other players, corralling it on his back hand before sliding it past Alex Schilling.
Timmons continued to show off his nose for the net a few shifts later, winning a positional battle in the crease before getting a piece of a backhand chance that fell to him after Brendon Michaelian's point shot deflected off the post to complete the natural hat trick.
Air Force cut it to 3-1, sneaking one between West and the post from a sharp angle, however the Colonials would head to the locker rooms still up two.
The Falcons found some push back in the middle frame, earning some extended zone time against RMU and peppering West with shots, however the freshman tender came up with a number of key saves.
The Colonials nearly held the fort, however a late tally by Thomas Daskas with 57.4 seconds to go cut the RMU lead down to a goal, setting up a crucial third for Robert Morris.
The physicality ramped up as the Colonials tired to outlast a final push from the Falcons.
Timmons nearly made it four on a breakaway, however he fired the effort right into the chest of Falcons goalie Zach LaRocque. Nick Prkusic was denied not long after on another glorious chance as RMU continued to hunt an insurance goal.
Addamo finally gave the Colonials some breathing room, picking up RMU's third power play goal of the game with hard, low shot from the top of the right circle that beat LaRocque low blocker side.
The win now gives RMU a league-leading 9 points in the Atlantic Hockey standings.
SCORING PLAYS
Timmons, 00:25, 1st - Assists: Kramer, Hebert
Timmons, 4:43, 3rd (PP) - Assists: Spellacy, Hebert
Timmons, 9:21, 1st (PP) - Assists: Spellacy, Michaelian
Levin, 16:58, 1st - Assists: Daskas
Daskas, 19:03, 2nd - Assists: Norlin, Mehnert
Addamo, 13:25, 3rd (PP) - Assists: Guerra, Kramer
QUICK HITS
Jordan Timmons registered his first career hat trick, a natural hat trick…Timmons now leads RMU in goals (6) and is second in points (8)…Noah West made his second consecutive start in net, making 21 saves for the win…Brian Kramer picked up two more assists for three in two games…The Colonials went went 3-5 on the power play and finish the weekend 4-6…The PK finished a perfect 3-3 on the weekend…RMU improves to 4-1 when scoring first
QUOTABLES
"We did a pretty good job, we won five of six periods this weekend. After we lost the second tonight, I challenged our guys for a pushback, not to use any excuses, and not to allow them back in the game and I thought our guys responded really well. When a team is pressing you have to play both ways, and I thought we played really well in the offensive zone and generated chances." - Head Coach Derek Schooley
NEXT UP
Robert Morris returns to the friendly confines of Clearview Arena next weekend for a meeting with the Niagara Purple Eagles Friday night before finishing out the home-and-home the following night in Lewiston.
